Link-connector.



S. J. STAPLES.

LINK CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4,1912

Patented June 29, 1915.

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SIDNEY JZJSTA PLES, OF WEST NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTO BHEUMATIC ACTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Linn-commerce.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pg tented June 29, 1915.

Application filed Ma a; i912. Serial No. 695,168.

ToaZZ whom it may concern.

Be it'known that I, SIDNEY J. STAPLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at lWest New vYork, in the county of Hudson andState of New Jersey, have invented a. new and useful Link-Connector, of which the following-is a specification.

In various mechanisms, particularly automatic musical instruments, a considerable number of; levers and links are employed so that. operating handles can be arranged at aconvenien-t position'and can be 'con-' nected to the various controlling elements of the apparatus. It is usual in such construction tofform a hole in the end of the lever and to bend the end of the link and to out a thread thereon. The parts are'con- 'nected by slipping this bent end of the link through the hole in the lever and securing the parts together by a nut' threaded on the bent end of the link. A felt washer is usually arranged under the nut toprevent the parts from rattling. This construction is expensive, takes time to apply, is apt to rattle loose and to become noisy if the nut unscrews. e

The object of this invention is to provide a suitable article or attachment to take the nections will be practically eliminated. To

this end, instead of using the screw-thread and nut, I employ a connector pressed out of sheet metal which is arranged with a spring arm to fit on the bent end of'the link and with engaging means to fit around the body portion of the link. This connector can be very quickly snapped in place and the parts will be permanently held to gether and so joined that theywill not 1 rattle.

- One application of the invention 1s shown .in' the accompanying drawing inwhich,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a lever and having the attachment applied thereto;-Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the attachment or connector.

Referring to the drawing and indetail A designates an operating shaft which has a lever or operating arm B bent therefrom,

which'is usually flattened and which has a. hole punched therethrough. G designates the link, the end of which ITS b61115 at right angles as at D. These parts are of the usual construction except that the bent end D is not threaded.

E designates the connector. The same is preferably made out of sheet metal and stamped and bent so as to have an inclined spring arm 10 with a hole 11-, a body section 12, and a section 13 bent around parallel with the .body section 12. WVhen it is desired to use the connector, the upturned end D. of the link is pushed up through the hole in the lever B and the spring arm 10 on the connector E is placed'in position by engaging the hole 11 thereof with the end '1) and by snapping the sections12 and 13 on to the body portion of the link CL The sections 12 and 13 are shaped so that when engaged. with the body portion of the link C, they will securely and firmly embrace and'pinch on the same.

By this arrangement,'the lever and link can be almost instantly secured together by the connector and when the connector is placed in position, the lever and link are permanently securedtogether in such manner that they will not rattle, the'spring arm 10 being so formed that when the sections 12 and 13; are engaged with the body portion of the link C, the spring arm will be put under a slight tension.

The invention is capable of application for uniting any two members, one of which has a laterally extending part engaging into and projecting beyond a hole in the other member. 4

The arrangement and shape of the con nector can be greatly varied without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is I 1. The combination of a lever having a hole therethrough, a link having a bent end adapted to-enter said hole, and a con-. nector having a spring arm provided with a hole fitted on the bent end of the linkand with a body section engaging the body of the link to hold the connector in position thereon.

2. The combination of a member'having a hole in its end, a second member having a laterally extending part engaging into and 'projectingbeyond the hole in the first memspring arm provl metal comiector having a ded with whole fitted on the prpjecting portion .of said part and proyidedwlth sections for engaging on oppo- 6 site sides. of thesecond member.

I '3.'-The eombinatlon of a lever hole in-its end, a'link having a'bent end fit-..

having a ting in'z'said hole,* and; a s heet metal con- 'ne'ct'or Having a spring arm provi ded with :-a holefi-tted on the :bent end of thelink and with a body section, and a section bent park I allel thereto, said sectionsengaging the body of the link.

In testimony whereof I havgv set my hand, in the presence 0. scribing'w'itnesses.

SIDNEY 'J. STAPLES.

hereunto Witnesses:

WILLLAMJ. BARTON, WILLIAM J. KELLEY.

two sub- 5 

